Kennedy Harshaw grabbed an offensive rebound before putting in a layup in the fourth quarter of the Lady Bulldog's win over Xenia Christian on Friday. Harshaw was dominant under the hoop. (Photo by Megan Bachman)

Girls sneak past XC, keep title hopes alive

Emotions were high during the YSHS girls varsity basketball team’s late-season contest against Xenia Christian on Friday night. In a do-or-die game that would keep the Lady Bulldogs in the hunt for its first league title in school history, the team battled hard from opening tip-off to final buzzer.

YSHS point guard Maryah Martin started off the game with a four-point play (a three-pointer and foul shot) and an effortless drive to the paint and layup. Forwards Angela Allen and Kennedy Harshaw added baskets from the post. The Lady Bulldogs led 12–7 at the end of the first.

In the second quarter, YSHS’s crisp passing and Harshaw’s steady rebounding kept them ahead of Xenia Christian, who were constantly driving and scoring easy layups. Feisty guard Brianna Ayers also came alive in the second. She scored seven points in the frame, most on quick drives to the hoop. YSHS led at the half, 26–23.

But Xenia Christian wouldn’t fade away, and in the third quarter went on a scoring run and found themselves up 36–33 with two minutes remaining in the third. For the rest of the game, however, Allen and Harshaw were formidable on the boards, putting in second and third chances on possession after possession. Meanwhile, Ayers continued her scoring campaign, Martin handled the ball calmly under pressure and Keturah Fulton, along with her teammates, put up a strong defensive front.

The Lady Bulldogs won 55–45. They are now 9–1 in the conference with a show-down at Troy Christian next Friday, Feb. 8, at 5 p.m. to decide the conference victor.